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Friday, 17 June 2016

Why I'm voting to stay IN the EU and why you should too.

So I am voting to stay in the EU. In fact I already have voted because I do a postal vote. To me it seemed the only logical vote. This is one of the most important events we get a say in so please, if it is the only thing you ever vote for, get down to your local polling station on Thursday 23rd June.

Firstly here is a quick infograph which says it all.

My personal reasons for voting IN

1. I Love Travelling.

I have friends from all over Europe. I think it's awesome that I can get a return flight for £30 to visit them whenever I like and vice versa (come visit me!) Leaving may jeopardise the ease of travelling throughout Europe.

In 2007 I spent a month hopping on and off trains across Europe with nothing but my backpack and passport. I don't want to possibly have to get a visa for every single country I visit (anyone who has travelled across Asia knows what a pain this is) and pay higher rates. Sir Richard Branson, the boss of Virgin has even warned that leaving the EU 'could see massive numbers of routes taken away from low-cost airlines operating from the UK.'

European (and American) friends reunion, London 2011

2. For Animal Welfare & the Environment.

In the UK, hens are no longer kept in empty cages and pigs are no longer kept in restrictive sow stalls all thanks to the EU. In fact around 80% of all our animal welfare legislation in Britain is based on EU rules. There is a great deal more we could and should do for our farm animals and the EU helps push that along (albeit slowly). The EU has the strongest wildlife protection laws in the world and puts a lot of money into maintaining our gorgeous beaches.

Earlier this year Parliament tried to ease back (for lack of a better phrase) it's rules on welfare standards in chicken farms, potentially allowing the farmers to "self-regulate". Fortunately there was a huge public outcry so the change never went ahead but the proposal alone was enough to show how little the Conservatives care about animals. Conservatives keep lobbying to get rid of various hunting laws despite the British majority backing the current ban and if we left the EU, Britain would not need to stick to the EU animal protection laws.

With Cameron clearly showing they have no desire to go beyond the minimum requirements for animal rights, I am happy to know that EU have the animals back.

Rhossili Bay, Gower - Swansea 2016

3. My Work Rights.

In 2014 David Cameron actually tried to rid some of our human rights! Many of our work rights come from EU law. The 48 hour week, equal pay and maternity leave to name a few. All of which Mr Cameron tried to chuck out the window. Luckily the EU stopped him. Leaving the EU means the government can and will do whatever they like with our work rights and the EU wouldn't be able to stop them.

It is not even just work rights. Disability rights are in the spotlight but luckily they are protected by the EU so our government would be unable to scrap them too.

I quite like not having to work a ridiculously long working week and am grateful for every holiday I get. I have close family members with disabilities these rights are all very important to me and I would rather not risk cutting off my nose just to spite my face by voting out.

4. To Keep Our Jobs.

Over 3 million jobs are linked to our EU trade. That's about 1 in 10. Around 200,000 UK businesses trade with EU countries, equating to nearly half our exports. Prior to joining the EU there was a 40% tax to export products such as music to certain European countries! Being part of the EU means no customs charges for exports throughout the single market. The EU's combined market value makes up to 1/3 of the whole worlds and being in the EU allows us easy access to it. It also gives UK businesses preferential market access to over 50 non-EU economies like South Korea and South Africa. Obama himself says that leaving the EU would be like cutting off our own limbs so why risk it all?

5. More Money in my Pocket

I work hard so that I have money to do things such as travel. I don't want to work just as hard and come home with less money. It would be soul destroying.

EU membership costs us £350 millions a week (roughly £252 per person a year). Margaret Thatcher negotiated a rebate so billions are given back to us to be spent on loads of things like farming, hospitals, and grants for uni's and businesses which brings the cost down from £252 to £89 a year. Basically for every £1 spent on the EU, we get almost £10 back. Considering the massive benefits we gain from being a member of the EU, that's a pretty good deal to me.

Norway are not part of the EU but still have to pay to be included in the EU's single market. In 2015 it cost them £134 per person for that privilege. (A pint also costs them about £9. Sheeesh!) Leaving the EU will mean that we will still have to pay the EU to access their single market and follow their rules but we won't get to voice our opinions.

In fact, the official treasury has stated that the average UK household with be £4,300 worse off if we leave the EU.

To summarise: Leaving is high risk as a possible 1 in 10 jobs will be lost plus we could be paying 40% tax just to export our products. Less jobs and higher living costs. Not a great mix.

6. To support our Health Care System

EU membership brings us £91 billion a year to our economy to be invested in things like the NHS.

As members we get a strong say in world leadership. Without this much needed money, there will be significantly less money to put into our already struggling NHS. We would no longer be entitled to free European healthcare when we are abroad. This means many Britons currently abroad would return (Spain is a pensioner haven) and as many are elderly this would put yet an additional strain on the NHS. Many of the politician leave campaigners like Borris Johnson are the one's that want to privatise our NHS anyway!

I personally think that a step out of the EU is a step closer to us no longer having an NHS. I have Addison's and thyroid disease and rely on my NHS for my prescriptions. Without these I will actually die. I do not want to have to work and spend all my money on staying alive.

7. We are safer together

I am a firm believer of safety in numbers. In a zombie apocalypse, I'd rather be in a small group than fighting alone. I feel the same way about our country.

The European Arrest Warren allows us to deport criminal from the UK and catch those fleeing justice across Europe. Terrorism isn't controlled by borders and the EU fights it together. Strength in numbers.

Not only is our public safety better off, but also our consumer safety. EU regulation means our children's toys aren't made from toxic plastic and that our food labelling says exactly what is in our food

Why should we LEAVE?

The ONLY argument I've heard as to why we should leave is "immigrants". Really? Migrants coming into the UK have contributed significantly more to our economy than they have taken out in benefits. We should be more worried about the British people who play the system by pumping out babies to get more benefits or being on the sick because of a fictitious bad back. In or out will not stop people entering Britain, especially when the majority of immigration into the UK is from countries outside of the EU.

There is nothing wrong with people moving to make a better life for themselves. To think immigrants move solely to the UK is very ignorant when there are 28 counties in the EU to choose from. Plus I am certain you know someone living abroad. I know many people who have moved to New Zealand and Australia for a better life.

If you are worried about "them immigrants coming here and stealing our jobs" first answer this. How many people do you know who have actually had their job taken from them by an immigrant? Yeah... Zero. If you are that insecure about your job then maybe you should put more effort in and work harder. If you do get replaced by someone with no skills who can barely speak any English, then you were most likely really bad at your job and didn't deserve it anyway.

Finally:

At the end of the day, which would you rather? A country ran completely by the jokers who are our government or a country ran by the jokers in parliament regulated by a whole continent? The way our country is going, it's a no-brainer.

Don't believe the newspaper propaganda!

The Sun & The Times - Rupert Murdock.

The Daily Mail - Lord Rothermore.

The Telegraph - The Barclay Brothers.

These people live outside the UK and avoid paying UK taxes. The EU wants people to stop using tax havens to avoid taxes so naturally British papers are telling us to leave as it will hugely benefit the owners.

Whatever your opinion, please get out there and vote. If you are still unsure, do a bit more research.

Polling stations are open 7am to 10pm on Thursday the 23rd June so there is really no excuse. Check out my How to Vote in the EU Referendum post for all the information you need to make sure you're ready.

10 comments:

Great article Helen and I'm with you. People need to look beyond the scare stories about immigration and think for themselves. Whilst the EU is not perfect, membership brings great benefits and stability and I, for one, don't want to lose those or see them lost for future generations.

Well done, I'm voting in purely the facts - like you - I want to go travelling. I went travelling round Europe last year and it was superb. We are so frickin lucky to have Europe practically on our doorstep. Do not take that away.

This is a fab article Helen!! Really well-written and comprehensive. I'm voting in and most people I know are too, but I'm genuinely frightened that we're going to be outnumbered :( fingers crossed I'm really really wrong!! xx

I've found that many older people are on the 'leave' side but the younger people are 'in'.I just hope that the younger voters actually get out there and vote. If so then I believe that we are in a majority but of course if people do not go and vote then this is irrelevant.